Tough decisions thrown up by the Covid-19 crisis are exposing the governance gap between trustee boards with adequate technical knowledge, and well-meaning but underskilled amateurs. The regulator must keep up its push for better standards, argues FT pensions correspondent and Pensions Expert columnist Josephine Cumbo.

The Pensions Regulator is stuck between a rock and a hard place when it comes to knowing how far it can go with its relaxed rules on deficit repayment holidays, warns columnist and Financial Times pensions correspondent Josephine Cumbo.

The regulator’s hands-off approach regarding employer pension payments must not be seen as an opportunity for chancers pushing for pension holidays that are not justifiable, warns columnist and Financial Times pensions correspondent Josephine Cumbo.

Guidance from government on how to deal with tax issues in GMP conversion is urgently needed so that schemes can proceed with equalisation, as there is a great risk that implementation costs will be higher than the actual benefits members will receive, warns columnist and Financial Times pensions correspondent Josephine Cumbo.

Recent revelations that the City watchdog has concerns about the majority of the £80bn market for providing pension transfer advice in the UK have triggered shock and anger across the industry. Quite rightly too, says columnist and Financial Times pension correspondent Josephine Cumbo.

The Financial Conduct Authority has stirred into action on the role of independent governance committees, but columnist Josephine Cumbo asks whether the regulator can really be sure that the committees are doing a good job of the responsibilities they already have.

Tough talk from the Pensions Regulator on automatic-enrolment breaches has translated into more action in recent years, but there are signs that the watchdog is still hesitant to use the toughest sanctions in its toolbox, says FT pensions correspondent Josephine Cumbo.

The FCA has finally proposed a ban on contingent charging, in all but exceptional cases, and put in place other measures to protect those looking to transfer. But all this should have come much sooner, argues columnist and Financial Times pensions correspondent Josephine Cumbo.